The First Sage of Military Strategists

Chapter 3 Seven Killings Stele

North of the yamen (government office) stands a tall archway, and in front of the archway is a square, which is where the yamen executed criminals.

Han Qing didn't know if the concept of "execution after autumn" existed in this era; at least the Baiyun County government didn't do it.

The venue for executions varied depending on the circumstances. If less important death row inmates were executed there, the executions would not be public, but the public would not be prevented from coming to watch.

If the condemned prisoners were notorious bandits or notorious womanizers, notices would be posted, and they would be taken to the execution ground to be beheaded. Their heads would be hung on a wooden pole for public display, and their bodies would not be allowed to be taken back by their families. They would be left to rot in the marketplace for several days to deter the people.

Han Qing was not qualified to execute these big-name thieves; he should only kill small fry with little reputation.

Han Qing followed Yang Wu to this place and could smell a faint stench of blood in the air.

"I am an immortal! I have become an immortal!"

He waited for about fifteen minutes, and then several burly men brought a crazy old man to the front of the archway, who kept repeating the same words.

“The Taoist of Sanxiang is a wandering old Taoist who killed someone in the street half a month ago. According to the law, he should be executed! Let’s do it!” Yang Wu handed a heavy nine-ringed broadsword to Han Qing, the hilt of which was wrapped in red cloth.

As Han Qing received the knife, their eyes met. Yang Wu's pupils contracted as he sensed a chilling killing intent.

An ordinary boy would be quite surprised if he wasn't afraid after being brought here by him, but there seemed to be an undisguised excitement in Han Qing's eyes.

"Freak!" The thought popped into Yang Wu's mind.

Han Qing was indeed excited. The smell of blood here had stirred up his killing intent, which erupted like a volcano and seemed impossible to suppress.

His vision blurred again, and he began to hallucinate, hearing someone screaming incessantly!

Han Qing gripped the knife with both hands and suddenly slashed down. The knife was very sharp and severed the head of the mad old Taoist almost without any resistance. A spurt of blood sprayed onto the open ground.

Han Qing's murderous intent seemed to have found an outlet, vanishing in an instant and giving him a strange sense of pleasure. But he quickly came to his senses and saw the chaotic scene, making his stomach churn.

Having lived two lives without ever seeing a corpse, the sudden killing had an extremely strong impact on his psyche.

However, he forced himself not to show his weakness. He cherished this opportunity and tried his best to present his best side to Yang Wu.

“Not bad, you’re a freak, born to be a swordsman. Come with the other three to learn martial arts from me!” Yang Wu took the sword, a strange light flashing in his eyes.

"Thank you very much, Chief Yang," Han Qing said hurriedly.

"No need to thank me, this opportunity was secured for you by Elder Fang." Yang Wu said this and turned to leave.

"Old Fang? I'll remember that," Han Qing whispered.

Just then, a stone tablet suddenly appeared in the void of his mind, with seven different characters for "kill" on it, exuding an astonishing aura.

【Name: Seven Killings Stele】

[Rank: Rank 1 4.8%]

[Monument Inscription Owner: Han Qing]

[Realm: None]

[Martial Arts: None]

[Skill: Qingnang Suiyu Jing (Medical Proficiency 45%)]

A flood of information suddenly rushed into his mind, causing him excruciating pain, as if his brain was being torn apart.

After a short while, the pain subsided, and Han Qing let out a long breath, having completely digested the information. A hint of joy flashed in his eyes.

"My time travel is indeed related to the Seven Killings Stele. It seems I can't go back. However, with the help of this stele, I will soon be able to get out of this predicament."

Han Qing pondered, his gaze falling on a white sphere of light floating outside the Seven Killings Stele. A face was faintly visible inside the sphere; it was none other than the wandering old Taoist from before.

"absorb."

He silently recited the command in his mind, and in an instant, the white sphere of light shattered. A murmur appeared in his mind, accompanied by fragmented images.

"Tsk tsk, this young widow is really voluptuous! She actually dared to seduce this old Taoist priest. She's definitely not going to get away with this tonight!"

...

"Hmph, this little bitch actually said that this old Taoist is no good. Although I am over sixty years old, I have already mastered the Green Wood Longevity Technique and have more energy than a twenty-year-old!"

...

"I never expected to find a Spirit Refining Technique in this county town's general store, even if it's an incomplete version! This old Taoist is incredibly lucky!"

"I've become an immortal! I've become an immortal! Haha! You're all monsters, you all deserve to die!"

Accompanied by a burst of maniacal laughter, Han Qing also saw a tattered ancient scripture. The text itself was secondary; what mattered most was a picture on it, depicting a lush willow tree with eyes growing from its branches.

The strangest thing is that the painting is so realistic that Han Qing was suddenly drawn into an illusion after just one glance, as if he were standing in front of the big tree with eyes staring at him.

However, the next moment, the image shattered, and the old Taoist's voice disappeared. Han Qing took the opportunity to escape from the illusion, feeling a sense of fear in his heart.

Just now, he felt as if he were floating on air, as if his body was about to fly upwards.

"This incomplete scripture must be the root cause of the old Taoist's madness. What strange drawings. Could it be that there are extraordinary powers in this world besides martial arts?" Han Qing pondered, and suddenly a large amount of information appeared before his eyes.

Please inherit a martial arts skill.

1. Green Wood Longevity Technique (Mastery 86.5%)

Diligent study and practice can strengthen the body, promote blood circulation, improve physical constitution, and prolong life.

2. Incomplete version of the Qingliu Shenzhao Sutra (3.1% of beginners)

This is an incomplete version of the Medical Dao Refining Spirit Method. Practicing it can help one concentrate the mind and gather the soul, opening the door to the medical path, but it carries the risk of going astray and becoming possessed by evil spirits.

3. Breaking Wave Fist (Minor Success 71.6%)

Even a mediocre martial art can be improved by practicing its fist techniques.

4Four Lives General Meeting (91.2% success rate)

The divination methods of Taoist priests in the mountains can be learned and used for fortune telling.

...

This time he wasn't too surprised, because he already knew the function of the Seven Killings Stele. In addition to being able to peek into some of the deceased's memories, it could also inherit one of their martial arts skills or techniques, including their proficiency.

Han Qing took a deep breath and quickly calmed down. He understood that no matter how joyous the occasion, he must maintain a peaceful state of mind.

"This world truly possesses extraordinary power, and the Divine Refining Technique is the key to unlocking that power."

"However, there are certain risks in learning the Refining Spirit Method, which is why this old Taoist went mad."

"To be on the safe side, I'd better not inherit this Spirit Refining Technique. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future."

Han Qing was cautious by nature, and he did not want to touch such a dangerous thing before he fully understood what the Refining Spirit Method was.

He continued to look through the panel. This old Taoist priest had lived to be over sixty years old and had learned no fewer than sixty martial arts skills in his lifetime. Of course, most of them were of little use to him, such as cooking and painting.

"The most useful and valuable skill to me is undoubtedly the Green Wood Longevity Skill. It is a very famous health-preserving skill in Dayu. I have heard about it many times from other people in the three years I have been here."

"Inherit the Green Wood Longevity Technique."

hum!
Han Qing's mind jolted as a flood of information appeared in his head, all concerning the core principles of the Green Wood Longevity Technique, and his body was also undergoing changes.

He could clearly feel his blood and qi increasing rapidly, and his body was undergoing some kind of change. He could even hear some crackling sounds.

Han Qing closed his eyes and silently sensed the changes in his body. After about fifteen minutes, the information was completely transmitted, and his body no longer felt any abnormality.

"My body has become stronger, and I seem to have inexhaustible energy!"

Han Qing opened his eyes, casually stretched his muscles and bones, and felt his blood surging and inexhaustible energy.

"What a powerful Seven Killings Stele! This old Taoist priest must have spent decades perfecting the Green Wood Longevity Technique, but I have taken away his achievements."

"With this treasure by my side, how can I not rise above others?" For the first time in three years, Han Qing was filled with confidence for the future.

He started walking back, pondering as he went. The appearance of the Seven Killings Stele gave him new ideas about the future.

"I want to become stronger, so I must kill! Kill more people, preferably strong people, geniuses!"

“An ordinary person may live a mediocre life and achieve nothing. Even if I kill him, I will not gain any good martial arts skills.”

"However, looking at the present, I'd be better off becoming a butcher in the yamen, so I can acquire a lot of martial arts skills without taking any risks."

Han Qing became more and more excited as he thought about it, and silently clenched his fist. He made up his mind: he would become the most diligent executioner in the Baiyun County government.

(End of this chapter)